Boebert Pulls Opponent on the Money Escalator

Polarization with social media and some help from the pro- and anti-Trump bases make two Colorado candidates – one Republican and one Democrat – super fundraisers for next year’s 3rd district congressional race.

Charles Ashby, longtime political reporter on the Western Slope (Grand Junction Sentinel), described the lack of transparency in campaigns fundraising with social media and receiving contributions of $200 or less.

I described their success as a product of our polarized politics and the nationalization of a few congressional personalities, like Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene. But in Boebert’s case, she’s also lifting her most likely opponent, Democratic State Senator Kerry Donovan, into the top fundraising tier.

Rep. Lauren Boebert speaks at news conference on Capitol
Hill in Washington to complain about Speaker of the
House Nancy Pelosi masking policies and other topics,
July 29, 2021 | Andrew Harnik/AP

Floyd Ciruli, a University of Denver public opinion and foreign policy professor who is director of DU’s Crossley Center for Public Opinion Research, said that’s because many congressional races have attracted national attention, which is polarizing people to donate to candidates who aren’t going to be their representatives in Congress.

While Donovan isn’t widely known on a national level, because Boebert is, Donovan likely is seeing a lot more financial support nationally than she might otherwise, Ciruli said.

“I would assume that the vast majority of that money is outside (of the state) because these are nationalized races,” he said.

“Ms. Boebert has a reputation as a strong Trump person, a gun rights person, and as just a person who can irritate liberals, and that attracts a massive national audience,” Ciruli added. “I can’t imagine that kind of money coming from Colorado. Boebert is a No. 1 target along with (U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor) Greene and a handful of others. Liberal interest groups and wealthy individuals around this country are dedicated to removing her.”